What's the point of gaining a valuable life lesson if it doesn't leave a hand print across the back of your skull? One of the best fly fishing lessons I've ever learned from an "Old Timer", deals with the proper way to be prepared your attack plans and strategies. As a youngster, I always made sure to have my rod set up and ready to go well before I ever placed my boot on the path to the river. I would usually keep the same fly tied on from the previous day or past week of fishing.

One day, I raced past this well seasoned angler while heading out to go fly fishing on the Tuolumne River in Yosemite. After I had been casting for about 30 mins or so, I saw him approach and then sit down by the water for at least 15 mins before ever tying on a fly. This was so taboo for me at the time that I had to know way; so like the smart ass kid I was, I asked him about his early morning siesta, and he replied, "I'm just checking out the battlefield young-an, so I can prepare the proper plan of attack."

What... battlefield, plan of attack? These were all new concepts to me so I engaged him even more with the thirst for an explanation and he preceded to give me one of my greatest lesson on fly fishing. He explained that he liked to come to the river with nothing ready but his blank canvas, he would then sit and enjoy the beauty while watching the action on the water, in the air and all the struggling flies trapped in webs during the previous night. He then explained to me that by not checking my battlefield, I didn't notice the two hard freezes we had and because of them, all the hoppers were done for the year; not good for the hopper I had tied on. I also missed the signs of a Yellow Sally hatch up river and if I would of paid more attention to the battlefield, I would of seen them trapped in the spider webs along the bank of the river. SMACK, my brian did a 180 and the lesson was etched on my skull, but it was only after many years went by that I actually put it to proper use.

The best anglers, always know what's going on around them. They draw up their attack plans from what they see in the present moment and as a result; they land more trout. Slow down your approach, capture the beauty and use the knowledge that each day provides.

No angler ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and they are not the same angler. - A modified quote from Heraclitus

Gratuity for guides is not included in your trip price; for outstanding service, a 15-20% tip is encouraged.

Yosemite Fly Fishing Guide is a subsidiary of Yosemite Family Adventures, LLC and they are licensed, insured and bonded for guiding in the state of California. YFFG operates under a Special Use Permit for Yosemite National Park and the Stanislaus National Forest.